A Better Congress: Change The Rules, Change The Results: A Modest Proposal - Citizen's Guide To Legislative Reform

Synopsis

A Better Congress: Change the Rules, Change the Results, by Joseph Gibson, is a comprehensive look at the reasons that Congress does not work well and real solutions that can make Congress work better. Joseph Gibson has worked in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government, including serving as chief antitrust counsel and chief minority counsel to the House Judiciary Committee. Includes the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution Joseph Gibson has produced a book that offers real insight into the pressures and problems that underpin modern congressional processes and has offered a series of innovative ideas to deal with those pressures and problems. One need not agree with all of his proposed solutions to get real value from Gibson's book because what he has produced is a template for thinking about new ways to address the dysfunction that pervades Capitol Hill. -- Robert Walker, Wexler & Walker, Washington, DC In A Better Congress, Joseph Gibson has produced a telling critique of Congress and its inability to perform the job required of it by the Constitution and its constituents. He offers a series of bold proposals to change the way Congress does its work - certain to kick off a complicated, contentious and difficult argument in Washington. Whether you agree or disagree with his solutions, get involved in this vital discussion! -- Chuck Cushman, Acting Executive Director, Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM), The George Washington University Table of Contents Introduction - Those Who Come to Congress Become Congress Part I: Why Congress Does Not Work Well Ch. 1 The Fortress of Incumbency Ch. 2 The Ordeal of a Campaign Ch. 3 The Skills Mismatch Ch. 4 The Congressional Bubble Ch. 5 Procedures Designed to Divide Ch. 6 The Drive for Reelection Ch. 7 Accomplishments Ch. 8 Crisis: An Opportunity to Waste Ch. 9 Third Rails II. How to Fix Congress A. Solutions for Both Chambers Ch. 10 Temporary Duty Ch. 11 All Cards on the Table Ch. 12 Back to Reality Ch. 13 Focus, Focus, Focus Ch. 14 Reading is Fundamental Ch. 15 A Purpose-Driven Minority Ch. 16 The Committee on Repeal B. Solutions Specific to the Senate Ch. 17 Just Do It Ch. 18 Hurry Up and Wait C. Solutions Specific to the House Ch. 19 Be It Ever So Humble Ch. 20 Other People's Money Ch. 21 Conclusion - Solutions, Solutions Everywhere, But...Appendix A. How the Figures for Numbers of Laws and Bills Used in this Book Were Derived B. Declaration of Independence C. U.S. Constitution and Amendments Index Complete Table of Contents online at www.ABetterCongress.com